How can we thrive by living in partnership with the Holy Spirit?
2 May 2021 - 11am Service
Holy Spirit Series: Dove - New Life of the Spirit
This Sunday we start our new preaching series Holy Spirit with a message from Dave Mitchell on ‘Dove - New Life of the Spirit’.
In our journey towards Pentecost this May, we will look at key symbols used in the Bible to help us understand how to encounter and live life with the Spirit of God.
We tend to think of the Spirit as a ‘force’ or an ‘energy’ - rather than a person to have fellowship with. However, it’s important to remember that the Holy Spirit is in the Godhead, which means ‘he’ is personal as well as powerful.
In this series, we’ll be unpacking scripture’s use of symbols describing the Holy Spirit as we try to better understand what it means to be a new creation and anointed with spiritual gifts. What is it that makes us well up from a deep place or speak in tongues? How do we deal with the mystical and transrational? How does God guide through the Spirit?
Remember, our 7pm service will be looking at the same topic and several members of church will be sharing their Holy Spirit-stories sharing with us. Check it out!
DISCUSSION NOTES
INTRODUCTION | Genesis 8:6-12 , Luke 3 & 4 and John 1:33
The Christian revelation of the nature of God is Trinitarian. That mysterious, mind expanding doctrine has given theologians and preachers much to ponder, preach and spill ink about, but there is still mystery about the Holy Spirit’s place in the Trinity. Because the Holy Spirit is in the Godhead, (we believe in One triune God) he is a person just as the Father and the Son are persons.
Many people don’t relate to the Holy Spirit as personal as well as powerful. Even looking at symbols of the Holy Spirit can tend to make us see the Spirit as a ‘force’ or an ‘energy’ rather than a person who you have fellowship with (Phil 2:1) can be grieved (Eph 4:30) and lied to (Acts 5:3). So do keep that in mind as we look at this series based on some of the symbols of the Spirit.
STUDY QUESTIONS
What do you associate the symbol of the Dove with when you think of it? For many people it is ‘peace’. How does that link with Luke 4:1 & 2?
What is the link between the story of the dove in Noah’s flood, and Jesus’ baptism experience? What is the difference in the Genesis story between a Dove and a Raven?
If the Dove is a symbol of God’s blessing ‘new beginnings’ what part does the Spirit play in the ‘new creation’ of someone beginning the Christian life? (2 Cor 5:17)
What does the imagery of a Dove, coming to rest evoke in your mind? How might we welcome the Spirit resting on us?
Water & Spirit are linked in the gospels. What is the link between being baptised in water and baptised in the Holy Spirit? (Acts 2:38)